Now that the Nano case has been submitted to the Court of Cassation and is expected to be tried at the highest level of the Albanian judicial system, this body—and our justice system itself—faces an opportunity, but also a major challenge. Albanian justice has a great and unprecedented opportunity, because in trying the Nano case it can strip away the political baggage, party animosities and acts of revenge against opponents, and provide compelling proof that it is independent, the true third branch of power in post-dictatorial Albania. Naturally, for the Court of Cassation to reach such a conclusion—that is, to acquit the leader of the Socialist Party, who has been held in prison cells for nearly a year, contrary to all democratic logic and every European standard on human rights—it must emerge from its shell of deference to the political authorities that make the rules in today’s Albanian society. With no compromise, and guided only by the truth, this court has all the evidence it needs to dismiss all the fabricated charges brought in connection with the Nano case. We say with conviction that, from a judicial point of view, the so-called Nano Case does not exist. It is a political fabrication, an integral part of the hostile climate that the current government maintains toward the legal opposition, and as such it is destined to fail. The Court of Cassation could not have a better opportunity to demonstrate its independence and show the authority and democratic spirit that should guide its work in accordance with the principles of the rule of law that we seek to establish. The Nano case is also a major challenge to the current officeholders, who, using neo-dictatorial methods and a mindset that is anything but democratic, put Fatos Nano in handcuffs—not only to strike at the leading figure of the Socialist Party, but also to teach the entire opposition a lesson: that it should be a real force for the establishment and consolidation of democracy, rather than a backdrop to the game of political and judicial power being played in Albania today. Fatos Nano has committed no crime, and this is as clear as daylight. This has been proven in the two proceedings that now make up the «Nano Case». Fatos Nano has broken no law. This has now been thoroughly proven. Fatos Nano must be released. This is demanded not only by the largest opposition party, the Socialist Party, and its electorate of several hundred thousand people, but also by institutions with influence in European life. It is demanded by sound democratic logic. The Nano case is a test stone: it will either plunge Albanian justice into the whirlpools of a neo-dictatorship’s machinery, or place it in its rightful role as an independent branch of power that acts in accordance with, and solely in application of, the law.

The State Budget risks failing to collect the revenues planned and approved by Parliament for 1994, amounting to 46 billion and 165 million lekë. Thus, although the deficit has been planned, if the revenues are not collected it will not be 26.8 billion lekë but several billion lekë more. We say this because during the first five months of this year, that is, from January to May 1994, budget revenues amounted to 12 billion and 488 million lekë, or only 26 percent of the planned annual revenues. It should be noted that taxes account for the largest share of the revenues collected over the five months, specifically 10 billion and 489 million lekë. Once again, taxpayers are the main contributors, accounting for more than 84 percent of State Budget revenues. During the first five months of the year, tax revenues were about 3 billion lekë higher than in the same period in 1993. Despite this, the budget is in trouble. Will Treasury bills save it? It seems the budget figures that were planned were more a wish—one worth commending, but lacking a genuine economic foundation. If that is the case, and it cannot be ruled out, the expression “contribute to the budget” is nothing more than a call in the wilderness.

INTERVIEW WITH DR. ANASTAS ANGJELI BY OUR EDITOR You have just returned from a visit to the USA. What prompted the visit, and what meetings did you hold? My visit to the USA was connected with an invitation to take part in a Discussion Panel on the topic «Contemporary Security Issues in the Balkans» (the invitation was sent by a professor of international political relations at Howard University in Washington). He had been asked, on the occasion of the 48th Conference of the Pan-Macedonian Association of the USA and Canada, to organize this discussion panel, where political figures, scholars and journalists from the Balkans—or those familiar with the region’s problems—would express their views on recent developments in the region. The panel members were Dr. Anastas Angjeli, a member of the Albanian Parliament from the Socialist Party; Mr. David Binder, a Balkan affairs expert and well-known journalist at the New York Times in the USA; Mr. Ted Galen Carpenter, director of foreign policy studies at one of the best-known political institutes in the USA, the CATO Institute; N. A. S. Tavron, professor of international relations at Howard University; and retired Greek General Ionnis Varyvakis. The Discussion Panel lasted about three hours and was held on July 1, 1994. All five participants spoke and answered questions from the audience, made up mainly of members of the Pan-Macedonian Association of the USA and Canada, journalists, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the USA, representatives of the State Department, and others. I would emphasize that the discussion focused mainly on Albania’s political and economic achievements after the overthrow of the communist dictatorship; certain issues that concern Albania today as it advances democratic processes and economic reform toward a market economy, and views on how to resolve them; the role of Albanian foreign policy in stability in the Balkans; national issues at the center of Albanian foreign policy; Balkan cooperation, and so on. A Voice of America comment and an article in RD have given rise to a misinterpretation of your remarks. Can you tell us something about this? Every journalist has the right to say and write what they do, as well as responsibility for it. Nevertheless, since this is an opportunity, I want to emphasize the position I took in this discussion regarding the issues of freedoms and human rights and, in this context, the Greek minority in Albania, about which I expressed the following view: «Regarding the treatment of and attitude toward the Greek minority in Albania: naturally, one cannot expect that in a country like Albania, which has been on the difficult road to democracy for these past 3–4 years and where, as I explained above, human rights are violated in practice for the entire Albanian population, the minority should in practice enjoy all freedoms and rights according to the standards recognized by international organizations. But neither can certain violations of the Greek minority’s fundamental rights and freedoms be justified—by sections of the authorities—in matters relating to the teaching of the Greek language, the celebration of religious holidays, and the way things were handled in the arrests, which were often accompanied by additional disadvantages...» The proceedings of this Discussion Panel lasted about 3 hours and took place on 1 July 1994. All five participants spoke and answered questions posed by the audience, which included chairs and members of the Pan-American Department, etc. What was the main focus of your remarks? My remarks concerned several issues relating to the “Political and Socio-Economic Situation in Albania and Its Impact on Stability in the Balkans.” Thinking that at an appropriate time we will give readers the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the content of this discussion, I would like to (Continued on page 3) These developments and rights are in keeping with the standards recognized by international organizations. However, some violations of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Greek minority by sections of the authorities cannot be justified either, in connection with holidays, and the way in which the six leaders of the “OMONIA” organization of the Greek minority in Albania were arrested. Naturally, it is too early to judge their allegedly unconstitutional activity, of which they are accused, until the justice authorities have established the facts. His remarks are a message to all intellectuals and specialists in their professional duties. Surely, next year the Agricultural Bank will make Sejait’s request its first priority. LLAZI PRILLO

Sejat and Evanthi Isufi are a married couple of agronomists with higher education, from Kelcyra. They are the only agronomists in the district of Përmet still practising their profession in these turbulent times. They are not thinking of joining the exodus or emigrating to work as itinerant traders, but of experimenting with something and putting it into practice on their land. It should be said at the outset that Sejat spent ten years specializing in vegetable greenhouses. During the cooperative period, after consolidating this work in Këlcyrë by establishing a model vegetable-growing operation, he expanded it to Paranit and Riban as well. He was young, only 25, but everyone called him “the father of vegetables” as they enjoyed tomatoes before the cherries were ripe. I meet Sejat at his plot, nearly one hectare in size. He tells me a little about politics, about the parties and the government. It’s true, he tells me, that the time has come for everyone to think of themselves. But the government should create the conditions for us to work. Do you see this plot? ... he says to me. If the agricultural bank in the district would lend me 2 million old lekë, I would not only repay it within a year, but would supply the whole town of Këlcyrë with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers starting now, at prices 50 percent lower than imported produce. In just a week, I’ll bring cucumbers from the small greenhouse I’ve built beside my house to market. I could build this greenhouse here, in the plain, where I could meet the needs not only of Këlcyrë but also of Përmet. I’ve already found transport and a wider market. But the bank doesn’t think it reasonable to lend to me because I’m a member of the SP. I know that some “people in need” from the DP have received loans from this bank to buy motorcycles. Nevertheless, even though the bank didn’t help me with a loan, I’ll be able, through my own work together with my wife, to...

Geneva: «The Nano Case» back on the agenda

Geneva. «The Nano Case» back on the agenda — The Commission of the Inter-Parliamentary Union met in Geneva — On July 11, 1994, the Commission of the Inter-Parliamentary Union for the Defence of the Rights of Parliamentarians met in Geneva, with «The Nano Case» once again on the agenda. The meeting was also attended by Socialist Party of Albania MPs Luan Hajdaraga and Leontin Çuçi, as well as by the lawyer of the Chairman of the SPA, Fatos Nano, Mr. Përparim Sanxhaku. They gave detailed explanations concerning new developments in «The Nano Case», mainly following the conclusion of the proceedings at the Tirana Court and up to the hearing at the Court of Appeal. The meeting is continuing its work. Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party

Ramazan Zeneli, a pensioner and resident of the Lushnjë asylum, informs us in a letter to our newspaper that the Lushnjë city police have committed an outrageous act. Lushnjë Police terrorize a family Ramazan Zeneli, a pensioner and resident of the Lushnjë asylum, informs us in a letter to our newspaper that the Lushnjë city police have committed an outrageous act: they assaulted and terrorized his family on the evening of July 5. At around 9 p.m. that day, several police officers went to the home of the citizen in question and beat his wife and children while the men were away. Later, after one of the children returned home, he too was beaten and taken to the police station, where he was held until the following morning; according to the account, he was also beaten there by the police. The incident took place without any reasonable cause. For hours, Ramazan Zeneli sought an explanation from the Lushnjë district police authorities for this act of terror. But they received him only a day later and treated him with indifference. This leads one to believe that the police officers’ actions were ordered by the district police authorities. Those beaten by the police have obtained medical examinations and other documents confirming that force was used against them, and have taken the matter to the justice authorities. Ramazan Zeneli’s family asked the newspaper to make this act of police terror in Lushnjë public through its pages. Correspondent of «The People’s Voice»

The conditions one encounters in the remote mountainous area of Derjan in the district of Mat have little to do with fallow fields and patches planted here and there, but the crops still have a yellow hue. The lack of water on more than 350 ha of land in this area has made life extremely difficult for the inhabitants here. From Dukagjin and Urxalla Barbuçi to Derjan, drought threatens, and the crops are at the mercy of fate. Years ago, a reservoir with a capacity ... was built for this area ... to supply water to almost the whole area; the waters were also to be brought, with great effort and expense, by the Shtjefni water supply system, which would carry water to the reservoir that had been built. But what happened? Now the Shtjefni water supply system is not functioning. The reservoir is half-damaged, and the pumping station does not work, even though it had been fully equipped. In the municipality of Derjan, whose representatives are from the PD, they do not even consider resolving this problem. At the Mat district council, Ha-ll; explains to us: we have raised our voices all the way to the Government, but there they have paid no heed to our requests. Responsibility for solving this problem lies with the district water enterprise; but what it does is not up to us, adds Hamdy. The truth is that the situation at this enterprise has deteriorated catastrophically, and this has left us with little to say about this problem to the people except, “We are sorry, we understand your situation; but there is nothing we can do.” In an effort to obtain explanations from the management of the Water Enterprise in Burrel, the finance office tells us that the Shtjefni water supply system, the pumping station and the reservoir in the Derjan area were not included in our plans, and that we have not received anything for them. As for the allocated funds, we have not BEKTASHI ZENELI

Lezhë The Socialist Party is proving itself to be the main constructive force for the development of democracy Bashkim Zeneli - Today the “Nano issue” has become more than ever an international issue. The messages are very clear. Berisha must listen to them carefully - A few days ago, the District Conference of the Socialist Party was held in the city of Lezhë. It reviewed the work done and the tasks ahead. The period since the first conference of the district PS, as was also emphasized in the report delivered by the chair of the PS in Lezhë, Kujtim Dashi, was assessed as a period of intensive work, with activity and struggle continuously increasing, with progress in strengthening the party organizationally and consolidating it, as well as in the other areas of its daily activity. Through new and difficult trials, while facing the extraordinary pressure exerted by Berisha’s regime, the Socialist Party in Lezhë was not suffocated, divided or factionalized; instead, it survived and grew steadily amid political developments. Consolidation and constant self-correction have been characteristics that also emerged during the campaign for new elections. Meanwhile, numerous qualitative improvements were made. Today, nearly half of PS members are under the age of 40. This influx, on the one hand, shows the growth in trust and credibility enjoyed by the PS and, on the other, makes the PD’s highly propagandistic claims that the PS is supposedly an old and unreformable party untenable. Over these two years, it was stressed at the conference, the people’s assessment has given us socialists the opportunity to govern alongside the city, the municipality of Kallmet, and to be represented on more municipal and city councils. Naturally, by... Nduе Simoni, a doctor, in his remarks emphasized the greater effort that needs to be made to provide health services in the countryside. Delegate Pashk Lusha, chair of the municipality of Kashnjet, stressed, among other things: in my work I have sometimes had to deal with unfavorable opinions, including those of some socialists, about appointments to posts. But, he stressed, everyone must bear in mind that we do not act according to the PD mindset of hiring only Party loyalists; our basic criteria are professional ability and dedication to work. Delegate Ilmenda Hasani spoke about educational problems which, as she emphasized, deserve greater attention. Delegates P. Pepa, H. Zgjeri, N. Leshi, and others also discussed how the PS’s work should be improved going forward. A distinguishing feature of this conference was also the predominance of young people among the delegates attending the conference; this is an indication of the renewal of the PS ranks. The arrival of new members in the district PS, in the leadership of organizations and councils, their satisfactory level of education, commitment to the encouraging socialist alternative, and professional abilities will surely bring greater dynamism to the life of the PS in this district in the future. Speaking at the conference, PS Presidium member and MP Bashkim Zeneli praised the work done and the achievements so far in the Party’s work in the district. Political work, he said, is not a struggle for chairs and positions. It is a struggle for the interests of democracy, of the whole nation and the district, and for Albania’s standing and progress in the world. We are a country with many hardships and many problems. Naturally, not all of them can be solved with... (Continued on page 3)

The proceedings of this Discussion Panel lasted about 3 hours and took place on 1 July 1994.